[Miscellaneous Android Development] AwesomeLewis24:
Forenote: Root has finally been achieved for us on the Asus Zenpad C 7.0! Special shoutout to [MENTION=7031497]InvisiBot[/MENTION] (source) and [MENTION=3726838]b0joker[/MENTION] (source). Not only that, but also to the Russian 4pda forum where the root process was brought up and discovered (source). All credit lies where it is due.

This topic is not me claiming to have made the root process, but only instead simplifying the process (hopefully) for all you guys to get root up and running on your ZenPad C 7.0. Let's do this!

I am not responsible for any screwed tablets, rekt skrubs, or anything that happens as a result of you following this guide. It worked for me on my Z170C, so there's no reason as to why it probably shouldn't work for you. This guide has been reported to also work with the Z170CG and Z370C tablets, in which case owners of these tablets can attempt this method but with caution. Beware, this method has not been tested by myself and prepare yourself for the event of a brick.

ASUS ZenPad C 7.0 Root Prerequisites

ADB + Fastboot Drivers (can either use Google's, Intel's or ASUS')

Z170C Root img

Patience ;)

Android SDK (and platform tools installed, can be installed through the SDK Manager)

Ensure that the ADB + Fastboot drivers are correctly installed by opening a new command prompt window, and typing the command "cd {this should be the directory to your Android-sdk/platform tools folder - the folder where adb.exe and fastboot.exe are located". Now, type "adb devices". If you see your device in the list with 'unauthorised', ensure that you check your tablet and allow ADB debugging to continue with your computer.

A full backup of everything that you would like to keep (because the device is unrooted, we cannot complete a Titanium Backup or likewise. Instead, ensure that all valuable photos, music, apps are backed up and are kept a note of to reinstall afterwards. We will have to be factory resetting the tablet in order to unlock the bootloader and boot from the root img.

(downloads are below in the attached files)

ASUS ZenPad C 7.0 Root Process

Ensure that ADB Debugging is enabled on your device, and that a full backup of everything that you want to keep has been made.

Connect your Z170C to your computer with ADB Debugging checked, and ensure that the ADB drivers are installed and working as intended.

Download the Z170C root img, and store it on your desktop.

Open a new command prompt window, cd to your Platform tools folder (with adb.exe and fastboot.exe) and run adb devices to ensure that your device is connected.

Once connected successfully...

adb reboot fastboot

to reboot into fastboot.

Now you are successfully in fastboot, here's the tricky part. Follow the code as exactly given below:

fastboot oem unlock
fastboot oem unlock confirm
fastboot boot "C:\Users\{your PC user name here}\Desktop\root-z170c_cg.img"

IMPORTANT: The window will request that you follow the code "adb format userdata" and "adb format cache". DO NOT DO THIS. You will risk bricking your tablet (this was the mistake I took when I tried rooting this tablet for the first time, so it's no biggie). If you accidentally follow this and end up bricking your tablet, follow the guidance below.

Allow the tablet to boot up. Give it a few minutes, and you should be at the ASUS tablet setup screen again. Proceed with setting the device up.

Once set up, proceed to the Play Store and install SuperSU (maybe even 'Root Checker' for further confirmation that root is successfully installed on your device). Once SuperSU is installed, be sure to update the root binary when it first prompts you to. At the prompt screen, select 'Normal' installation rather than 'TWRP/CWM'.

When the binary has installed, reboot your device one final time. Welcome to your rooted Z170C!

Endnote

I hope this brief tutorial helped you to gain root onto your ASUS ZenPad C 7.0. It is disappointing that you will have to go through all of this trouble in order to obtain root, but if you follow all of the steps exactly I can guarantee that it will work. And not forgetting, again, all credit stands to where it's due (check top of forum post).

In case of brick...

It happened to me, and it'll probably (not) happen to you. If by any chance you make a mistake and go wrong, fear not.

Firstly, leave fastboot by powering off the device.

Power back on the device, and when you reach the 'ASUS' boot up screen, hold the power + volume down buttons at the same time. Wait roughly 5 seconds.

At the 'recovery menu' screen, use the volume keys to select "Factory reset" and press the power button to select.

Wait a minute or two, and when the process has completed, use the volume keys to scroll back up to the top and reboot your device.

Once you are back inside the ASUS Setup, reboot your device and try again! This time, following the steps... Good luck.

Unbrick process not working for you? Download the stock firmware .zip here, and be sure to boot into recovery mode (power + volume down at boot) and flash the .zip.

- I haven't tested this yet so I cannot confirm 100% that this method works, but it should. It could be either an update package or the full stock firmware, but one user has confirmed this method to be working.

UPDATE: A quick update for all you guys on what is currently happening.

v1.0.2 - Minor update, grammar corrections.

v.1.0.1 - Topic created. Will require cleaning up and simplifying sometime.